Garnier's hair care is the other half of the story. The Fructis line, built on fruit-based haircare formulas, has been around since the early 2000s in the US, and it is still the part of the shelf I go to for frizz.

The Sleek & Shine range is the workhorse. The Anti-Frizz Serum is the small-bottle answer for flyaways, a drop through damp ends before you dry. The Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment is glossier and works on thicker hair, where a serum can disappear. The 10-in-1 Hair Spray for Frizzy & Dry Hair is a lighter-weight option you can spritz mid-length to ends and comb through, and it is the one I would toss in a gym bag. The Frizz Tamer Slick Back Hair Serum Wand is the fussiest of the group and the most fun: a little wand for slick ponytails, buns and baby hairs that refuse to lie down.

For heat styling, the Diamond Sleek Smoothing Spray with Heat Protectant goes on before the blow-dryer or iron. The Whole Blends Honey Treasures Leave-In Serum is the softer kind of leave-in, which I would use on towel-dried hair when the ends feel rough.

Less is usually more. Start with a pea-sized amount on ends, not roots, and add only if hair still looks frizzy once dry.

Box color has a bad reputation and half of that is unfair. It works well when you choose a shade close to your own and follow the timing on the box, and much less well when you try to make a huge jump from dark to light in one afternoon.

The four in this grid are each a different kind of choice. The Nutrisse Nourishing Permanent Hair Color Creme is the classic, the one to look at if you want to refresh a shade you already like. The Nutrisse Ultra Color, in R3 Light Intense Auburn, is for anyone who wants a bold red tone, and the shade chart on the box tells you what to expect on your own base. The Olia Brilliant Color in 4.0 Dark Brown is the sensible pick for a rich brunette, and it is the one I would reach for if I wanted the color to look natural and not obviously done. The Nutrisse Curls formula in CR6 Glossy Golden Brown is made for curls, with a warm golden brown.

What I would skip: skipping the strand test. Mix a little, apply to a hidden section, wait and check the shade, and do the patch test the instructions describe before you start. Also skip any big change the night before an event. Give yourself a week to live with the color.

Here is how I would shop this brand. Start with what you already do every day. If you wash your face daily, a micellar water or a balm is the easiest thing to swap in. If your hair frizzes when the air is damp, one serum is enough.

Pick one product, use it for a couple of weeks, and only then add another. Read the label on anything that touches your skin or scalp, stop using a product that stings or itches, and see a doctor if a reaction lingers. Color especially deserves the patch test on the box. Garnier is a big, familiar name, and the reason is simple: it makes ordinary routines easier to keep up. I like that nothing here asks you to rebuild your bathroom. You can add one bottle, see how your skin or hair responds, and keep what earns its place on the shelf. Anything that looks good in a box and then sits unused is not doing its job.